ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Power
SJVN signs MoU with IREDA for Green Energy Projects
SJVN Limited, a PSU under Ministry of Power has entered an MoU with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. . IREDA, a PSU under Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, will provide its services to SJVN for Green Energy projects. The MoU was signed by Shri NandLal Sharma, CMD, SJVN and Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA in the presence of Shri Akhileshwar Singh, Director , SJVN, Shri Surinder Pal Bansal, Director , SJVN, Shri Chintan Shah, Director , IREDA, and other senior officials today through virtual mode.
On the occasion Sh. NandLal Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director told that as per MoU, IREDA will undertake Techno-Financial due diligence of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Projects for SJVN. Under the MoU, IREDA will also assist SJVN in developing an action plan to create and acquire Renewable Energy projects for the next 5 years. Sh. Sharma said that, SJVN is committed to contribute in realizing the renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022 set by Hon’ble Prime Minister. The steps in this direction has already been taken and presently SJVN is developing 100 MW Dholera Solar Power Project & 100 MW Raghanseda Solar Power Project in Gujarat. He also emphasised that partnership of SJVN & IREDA will be long lasting and fruitful for both.
While signing the MoU, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA said: “The MoU highlights IREDA’s continuous efforts for the development of Renewable Energy sector in line Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This is a transformational opportunity for IREDA and SJVN to work together forming a perfect synergy between both the organisation. It will also serve to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer and provide consultancy & research services, which will contribute to driving sustainable development of the country. We look forward to extending our consultancy services to other PSUs as well as private organisations for the development of Renewable Energy Sector.”
Ministry of Home Affairs
Web Portal For Providing Citizen-Centric Police Services
National Crime Records Bureau under the administrative purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs launched Digital Police Portal  on 21st August 2017 which provides the following citizen services at the Central level:-
- Missing Persons search
- Generate Vehicle NOC
- Proclaimed Offenders information
- Locate Nearest PS
In addition, the following 9 mandated citizen services being provided by State Police Citizen Portals can also be accessed through Digital Police Portal:-
- Filing of complaints to the concerned Police Station
- Obtaining the status of complaints
- Obtaining the copies of FIRs
- Details of arrested persons/ wanted criminals
- Details of missing/ kidnapped persons
- Details of stolen/ recovered vehicles, arms and other properties
- Submission of requests for issue/ renewal of various NOCs 
- Verification requests for servants, employment, passport, senior citizen registrations etc.
- Portal for sharing information and enabling citizens to download required Forms
MHA has also launched the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal   on 30th August 2019 where citizens can report incidences of all types of cyber crimes including cyber crimes against women and children. Citizens across the Country can access these citizen centric services through the above mentioned portals. Authorized users of Law Enforcement Agencies and State/UT Police can access Crime and Criminal database using a secure network.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
Prime Minister's Office
Ministry of Defence inks over Rs 9,100 crore contracts for improved Akash Weapon System & 12 Weapon Locating Radars Swathi  for Indian Army
PM says that this is a welcome development, which will boost self-reliance and particularly help the MSME sector
In a tweet Office of Raksha Mantri informed that Ministry of Defence, on March 30, 2023, signed contracts for procurement of improved Akash Weapon System and 12 Weapon Locating Radars, WLR Swathi  for the Indian Army at an overall cost of over Rs 9,100 crore.
In reply to the tweet by RMO India, the Prime Minister said;
“A welcome development, which will boost self-reliance and particularly help the MSME sector.”
Ministry of Defence
India Navy empowers the country with Maritime Security and Indigenisation
Kolkata, December 05, 2018.
Two celebrated warships of the Eastern Fleet under the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy were berthed at the Kidderpore Docks in Kolkata as part of Navy Day Celebrations. Conducted tours were carried out by Navy personnel aboard the ships “INS Sumedha” and “INS Kirch” for school children, fishing communities of the state, serving and retired Defence personnel and their dependants and central and state government employees. Visits were also organized for groups of college students as well. This year’s theme for the Navy Day celebrations was “Indian Navy-Mission Deployed and Combat Ready”.
Interacting with the media persons, Rear Admiral D K Tripathi, Flag-Officer-Commanding, Eastern Fleet said here today that the visit of these ships to Kolkata is an important part of the naval calendar during the Navy Week celebrations. The ships provided an opportunity to the civil population to visit these ships and foster better understanding of the Indian Navy. He informed that Indian Navy is the prime agency responsible for overall maritime security, which includes offshore and coastal security. Rear Admiral Tripathi stated that the country’s economic growth, sustenance and the well being of the people is linked to safe and secure seas. Therefore, Indian Navy is monitoring closely and is ready to secure maritime interests and ensure security of the country, he added.
INS Sumedha is an indigenously developed naval advanced offshore patrol vessel of Saryu class and was commissioned in 2014. The ship, constructed at Goa Shipyard, is equipped with several weapon systems, sensors and state of the art-navigation and communication systems. The INS Kirch is a 91.10-metre-long Kora-class missile corvette that was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata and commissioned in 2001.
Navy Day celebrations are held on 04th December every year. The celebrations include various events held as an endeavour to bring the Navy close to citizens of the nation.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Cambodia on Cooperation in the field of Communications
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given ex post-facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding  between India and Cambodia on Cooperation in the field of Communications. The MoU was signed in Cambodia in March, 2019.
Impact:
The MoU will contribute in strengthening bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between India and Cambodia in the field of communications.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Supernova explosion traced to one of the hottest kind of stars
Indian astronomers have tracked a rare supernova explosion and traced it to one of the hottest kind of stars called Wolf–Rayet stars or WR stars.
The rare Wolf–Rayet stars are highly luminous objects a thousand times that of the Sun and have intrigued astronomers for long. They are massive stars and strip their outer hydrogen envelope which is associated with the fusion of Helium and other elements in the massive core. Tracking of certain types of massive luminous supernovae explosion can help probe these stars that remain an enigma for scientists.
A team of astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences , Nainital an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India with international collaborators have conducted the optical monitoring of one such stripped-envelope supernova called SN 2015dj hosted in the galaxy NGC 7371 which was spotted in 2015. They calculated the mass of the star that collapsed to form the supernovae as well as the geometry of its ejection. This work has been recently published in ‘The Astrophysical Journal.
The scientists also found that the original star was a combination of two stars – one of them is a massive WR star and another is a star much less in mass than the Sun. Supernovae  are highly energetic explosions in the Universe releasing an enormous amount of energy. Long-term monitoring of these transients opens the door to understand the nature of the exploding star as well as the explosion properties. It can also help enumerate the number of massive stars.
Figure 1: This figure reveals the spherical nature of the explosion associated with SN 2015dj.
Publication access link:
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2021ApJ...909..100S/abstract
For further details, Mridweeka Singh  and Dr. Kuntal Misra  can be contacted.
Ministry of Mines
Stringent Measures to Curb Illegal Mining
Government has, inter-alia, taken following measures for preventing illegal mining in the country:
 Penalty for illegal mining was made more stringent by the Central Government through amendment of the Mines and Minerals  Act, 1957 . The penalties have been increased from Rs. 25 thousand per hectare to Rs. 5 Lakh per hectare and the term of imprisonment has been increased from 2 years to 5 years for contravention of Section 4 and 4 of the MMDR Act.
 Section 30B of the MMDR Act provides for constitution of Special courts and Section 30C provides that such Special Courts shall be deemed to be a Court of Session.
 Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 makes it mandatory for all miners, traders, stockist, exporters and end-users of minerals to register and report on the production, trade and utilization of minerals to the State Government and Indian Bureau of Mines.
Further, Section 23C of the MMDR Act empowers the State Governments to frame rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals for both major and minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. Hence, prevention and control of illegal mining comes under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of State Governments. Accordingly, 21 State Governments have framed rules under Section 23C of MMDR Act to curb illegal mining. Moreover, 22 States have set up Task Forces to control illegal mining and review the action taken by member departments for checking the illegal mining activities at state and district levels.
Stone is a minor mineral under Section 3 of the MMDR Act. Section 15 of the MMDR Act empowers the State Governments for making rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals including stone and for purposes connected therewith. Hence, the regulation of minor minerals comes under the legislative and administrative domain of the State Governments.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs
More than 202.43 Crore vaccine doses provided to States/UTs
More than 4.77 Crore balance and unutilized vaccine doses still available with States/UTs
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply  75% of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
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VACCINE DOSES
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|

|
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SUPPLIED
|
|
2,02,43,47,325
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|
BALANCE AVAILABLE
|
|
4,77,33,880
More than 202.43 crore  vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far through Govt. of India  and through direct state procurement category.
More than 4.77 Cr  balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.
Ministry of Railways
Kisan Rail
Under the Kisan Rail Project, potential circuits for movement of vegetables, fruits and other perishables are being identified in consultation with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Agriculture/Animal Husbandry/Fisheries Departments of State Governments. The assessment is being done on the basis of seasonal availability of these items for both way traffic, so as to obtain efficiency and economies of scale.
Under the Kisan Rail Project, two train services viz. Devlali& Kolhapur  to Muzaffarpur , and Anantapur  to Adarsh Nagar  are already operational. Another service from Yeshwanthpur  to Nizamuddin  will become operational very soon.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
AYUSH
Ayush Mark Certification Scheme
Ayush Mark Certification Scheme is operated by Quality Council of India  since 2009. The salient features of the scheme are as follows:
- It is a voluntary certification scheme for ASU&H products having two levels: Ayush Standard Mark and Ayush Premium Mark.
- The Ayush Standard Mark is based on Good Manufacturing Practices  for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines  as per Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945. AYUSH Premium Mark is based on WHO’s GMP guidelines covering herbal medicines.
- For any manufacturer to qualify for AYUSH Mark Certification, compliance to the domestic regulations is a pre-requisite. The products are certified post regulatory approval given by State Licensing Authority of the state government concerned.
- The rest of the details of the scheme can been accessed at the following link:
https://qcin.org/voluntary-certification-scheme-for-ayush-products.
This information was given by Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
LAUNCH OF FIRST MCA BARGE YARD 75  AT M/S SECON, VISAKHAPATNAM
Missile Cum Ammunition  Barge, Yard 75  was launched by RAdm Sandeep Mehta, ACWP&A on 24 Feb 23 at Guttenedevi, launch site of M/s SECON, Visakhapatnam. With all major and auxiliary equipment / systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, this Barge is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.
Contract for construction of 08 x MCA Barge was concluded with M/s SECON, Visakhapatnam, a MSME, in consonance with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives of the Government of India. This Barge is being built with a service life of 30 years. The availability of MCA Barges will provide impetus to Operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles / ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
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VM/PS 20/23
(Visitor Counter : 1755
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Production of Organic Manure through Agricultural Wastes and Animal Dung
Indian Council of Agricultural Research  has developed improved technologies for the preparation of quality composts namely Vermi compost, bio-enriched compost, Mineral-enriched compost , and rapo-compost from different biomass including animal excreta etc. Besides, lignocellulolytic microbial consortium has been developed for reducing the period of composting within 30-45 days depending upon the substrate used.
Under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme , credit linked back ended subsidy is provided to private agencies through NABARD @33% of total financial outlay subject to the maximum of Rs 63 lakh/ unit against total financial outlay of Rs.190.00 lakh for maximum capacity of 100 tonnes per day of Fruit & Vegetable Agro Composting Unit, while State and Central Government agencies are provided 100% assistance with maximum limit of Rs 190.00 lakh.
The Government is providing input subsidy @ Rs 31000/ha under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and @ Rs 32000/ ha under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region for promoting use of bio and organic fertilizers. ICAR provides technical backstopping and imparts training, organizes front-line demonstrations etc. to educate farmers on production of organic manure through utilization of agricultural wastes and animal dung etc. as and when required.
State-wise details of fruit and vegetable compost units established under Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme  through NABARD since 2004.
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Sl. No.
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State
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Fruit and vegetable compost units
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Number of Units
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Subsidy released 
|
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-
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|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
2
|
|
48
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|
-
|
|
Assam
|
|
2
|
|
42.945
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|
-
|
|
Bihar
|
|
1
|
|
4.125
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|
-
|
|
Delhi
|
|
1
|
|
20
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|
-
|
|
Goa
|
|
1
|
|
11.6
|
|
-
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
1
|
|
4.773
|
|
-
|
|
Haryana
|
|
1
|
|
63.00
|
|
-
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
8
|
|
339.68
|
|
-
|
|
Kerala
|
|
2
|
|
21.287
|
|
-
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
1
|
|
2.258
|
|
-
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
1
|
|
35.712
|
|
-
|
|
Manipur
|
|
1
|
|
17.53
|
|
-
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
4
|
|
148.332
|
|
-
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
1
|
|
19.187
|
|
-
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
1
|
|
15.125
|
|
Total
|
|
28
|
|
793.554
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.
President's Secretariat
President of India inaugurates 13th convention of the Central Information Commission
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 13th Convention of the Central Information Commission in New Delhi today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that free flow of information is the essence of democracy. And for the people of a free and free-spirited country, information is power. They have a right to know how they are being governed, how public money is being spent, how public and national resources are being deployed, how public services are being delivered, and how public works and welfare programmes are being carried out. In a democracy, there is no such thing as too much information. Information overload is always preferable to information deficit.
The President said that RTI is not a standalone. It is part of the larger narrative of strengthening Indian democracy, of ensuring transparency across systems of governance, and of building capacities of the common citizen to enable him or her to take informed decisions and make informed choices. Above all, it is about nurturing the social contract of trust between the citizen and the state – where both must have faith in each other. A related and parallel implication is to ensure rational use of public resources to check instances of corruption or waste.
The President said that RTI is part of a theme that makes for greater efficiency in both delivering services to a citizen as well as using public resources and finances. This improves transparency and removes doubts that may arise about favouritism and misappropriation. The Internet and the digital economy have been used to advance e-auctions of mining blocks. They have helped create the Government e-Market or GeM portal for public procurement of goods and services. And the JAM trinity – Jandhan accounts, Aadhar-based unique identities and mobile phones – has helped with direct bank transfers to beneficiaries of schemes.
The President said that all these are promoting efficiency and checking wastage. They act as a bulwark against corruption. They are part of the same architecture of citizen empowerment, citizen enabling and public efficiency that has inspired the Right to Information.
The President also emphasized on the fine balance between the Right to Information and the Right to Privacy. He commended the CIC for upholding the RTI’s basic charter that public records, with some exceptions for subjects such as national security, are open to public scrutiny – but private records of individual citizens are protected from intrusive third-party curiosity. He said that we must be cautious against fringe cases that try to use the RTI mechanism to settle personal scores. Especially in an age when privacy has become a matter of such intense debate, it is crucial to maintain this balance.
Click here for the President's speech
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Prime Minister launches E20 Fuel & flags off Green Mobility Rally in Bengaluru today
Prime Minister inaugurated India Energy Week  2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 6th Feb 2023. Being held from 6th to 8th February, IEW is aimed to showcase India's rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse. As part of the event, he also Launched E20 Fuel and Flagged off Green Mobility Rally organised by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited on behalf of Oil & Gas PSUs and PLL. Governor of Karnataka, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs and Hon’ble Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment also graced the occasion.
E20 Fuel:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launching E20 Fuel during India Energy Week in Bengaluru today
In line with the Ethanol Blending roadmap, Prime Minister launched E20 fuel at 84 Retail Outlets of Oil Marketing Companies in 11 States/UTs. E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol with petrol. The Government aims to achieve a complete 20% blending of ethanol by 2025, and HPCL and other oil marketing companies are setting up 2G-3G ethanol plants that will facilitate the progress.
Ethanol Blending programme has been a key focus areas of the Government to achieve Aatmanirbharta in the field of energy. Due to the sustained efforts of the Government, Ethanol production capacity has seen a six times increase since 2013-14. The achievements in the course of last eight years under under Ethanol Blending Program & Biofuels Program have not only augmented India’s energy security but have also resulted in a host of other benefits including reduction of 318 Lakh Metric Tonnes of CO2 emissions and foreign exchange savings of around Rs 54,000 crore. As a result, there has been payment of around Rs 81,800 crore towards ethanol supplies during 2014 to 2022 and transfer of more than Rs 49,000 crore to farmers.
Green Mobility Rally:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flagging off Green Mobility Rally in Bengaluru today
Primee Minister also flagged off Green Mobility Rally organised by HPCL. The Rally witnessed participation of 57 vehicles running on sustainable green energy sources viz., E20, E85, Flex Fuel, Hydrogen, Electric etc. The Rally helped in creating public awareness for the Green fuels. During the culmination program of the Rally, Hon’ble Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment, Shri Rameswar Teli during his address said that this Green Mobility Rally will help raise a lot of awareness in the Nation towards Green and Sustainable fuels. He said that Government of India’s policy push like Ethanol Blending Program and National Green Hydrogen Mission will fuel Indian economy towards its target of 5 trillion dollar economy and realizing Net Zero by 2070.
RKJ/M
(Visitor Counter : 7185
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 UPDATE
192.12 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
India's Active caseload currently stands at 14,996
Active cases stand at 0.03%
Recovery Rate currently at 98.75%
2,346 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
4,25,94,801
2,323 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
Daily positivity rate 
Weekly Positivity Rate 
84.63 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 4,99,382 tests conducted in the last 24 hours